Meeting Information
4:00 p.m.
CONSENT AGENDA
(1) (a) Consider approval of Commission Orders; and
(b) Consider approval of contract renewal for Third Party Administrator for Workers’ Compensation Services. (Sarah Plinsky)
REGULAR AGENDA
(2) Consider approving the recommendation of the classification and compensation study
(Sarah Plinsky)
(3) (a) Consider approval of Accounts Payable (if necessary)
(b) Appointments
Douglas County Senior Services Board of Directors – (1) vacancy 04/2014
Fire District 2 (5) positions
Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging Board of Directors – (2) vacancies
Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging Tri-County Advisory Council – (2) vacancies
Lawrence-Douglas County Advocacy Council on Aging (5) - vacancies
(c) Public Comment
(d) Miscellaneous
RECESS
RECONVENE
6:35 p.m.
(4) Public Hearing for creation of Fire District for Marion Township (Jim Flory)
(5) Adjourn
Thellman called the regular meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, with all members present.
AGENDA 06-25-14
Thellman moved approval of the following Consent Agenda:
- Service Agreement between Douglas County, Kansas and Cannon Cochran Management Services, Inc. at a minimum total fee of $25,000 plus fees for loss control services, MMSEA Section 111 Reporting, managed care services, and special system reports for a one-year period beginning on June 15, 2014, and terminating on June 14, 2015.
Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried 3-0.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES 06-25-14
The Board considered approving the recommendation of the classification and compensation study as presented by The Austin Peters Group and recommended by staff.
Becky Crowder, President of The Austin Peters Group, reviewed the compensations study which included a position questionnaire, employee interviews, surveys, worksites tours, and markets reviews. The goal was to bring the counties pay structure for all jobs to a market target of the 70th percentile, with pay ranges in alignment with the market for all departments. Crowder presented recommendations to the Commissioners with a suggested 3% total salary budget adjustment for January 1, 2015.
The recommendations provide a market pay compression adjustment for 239 employees, in the amount of $226,108.34. In addition, employees would also move to new range minimums for a financial impact of $289,731.66 affecting 91 employees. No employees received a decrease in pay. The Austin Peters Group will assist in development of policies to address pay study recommendations and implementation for employees over the top of pay range, changes to reclassifications going forward, and policy revision ideas for administration. Their final reports will be submitted after July 15, 2014.
Gaughan asked how the merit increases play in to the rate adjustment after the compression. Sarah Plinsky, Assistant County Administrator, stated the compression is a onetime adjustment proving a starting point. Moving forward we will adjust our pay ranges annually due to market conditions and merit increases. This process did not involve performance.
Flory stated merits considerations could result in compression but that is not an unacceptable compression. He clarified this basically gives us a “ground zero” to work from without merit consideration, minimizing the compression and just based upon position in time. Plinsky stated that is correct.
Plinsky stated there are sufficient funds in the 2014 budget to implement the compression. The goal is for employees to see payroll changes in August.
Thellman asked for an explanation on how this system of range adjustments will be a yearly exercise at budget time rather than figuring a COLA. Crowder responded that staff will receive a letter in April showing movement in salary ranges and a merit pool based on surveys from the government non-union organizations in Kansas.
Flory commented he understands the beauty of having that work done for us, but understands the difficulty meeting those demands in the budget. It will still require an approval. Plinsky responded that is correct. Generally if we are experiencing a downturn in the economy, it’s very likely wages will not be increasing. The scientific market based data we receive will be helpful to explain ranges to employees. There are a variety of options available to the Commission on future rate changes.
Thellman opened the item for public comment. No comment was received.
It was a consensus of the Board they are committed and eager to implement the recommendations as presented.
Thellman moved to approve the findings of the 2014 Classification and Compensation Report, including the modification of pay grades, approving the range of adjustments and compression adjustments. Motion was seconded by Flory stating that the 3% adjustment is not part of the motion and will be separate decision, carried 3-0.
Flory moved to exclude exempt increases to the County Commissioners. Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried 3-0.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 06-25-14
Thellman moved to approve accounts payable in the amount of $283,404.78 to be paid on 06/26/14; and payroll in the amount of $869,628.18 paid on 6/25/14. Motion was seconded by Flory and carried 3-0.
APPOINTMENTS 06-25-14
Flory moved to appoint Kelly Albers to the Douglas County Senior Services Board of Directors filling the unexpired terms of Stacey Hunter Schwartz. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
APPOINTMENTS 06-25-14
Thellman moved to appoint the following members to the Lawrence-Douglas County Advocacy Council on Aging for a three-year term: Artie Shaw and Susan Gray. Motion was seconded by Flory and carried 3-0.
APPOINTMENTS 06-25-14
Flory moved to reappoint Bob Newton to the Douglas County Emergency Management Board. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
APPOINTMENTS 06-25-14
Thellman moved to appoint the following members to Fire District No. 2: Shaun Mahaffey, Bill Stark, David Brown, Richard Anderson, and Sue Drew. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried 3-0.
PUBLIC WORKS 06-25-14
Gaughan moved to approve additional expenses for the new Public Works facility in the amount of $40,751 out of the $300,000 contingency fund for the expanded construction of the rammed earth wall in the administration area and portions of operations. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried
3-0.
RECESS 06-25-14
Thellman moved to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded by Flory and carried 3-0.
RECONVENE 06-25-14
Thellman reconvene the meeting at 6:35 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING 06-25-14
Thellman called the public hearing on the formation of the Fire District for Marion Township to order. There was no public comment. Flory moved that the issue of the formation of the fire district covering a portion of the territory in Marion Township be tabled, in light of the fact that the Osage County Commissioners had not yet taken action on the request to de-annex the territory from Osage Fire District No. 4. Gaughan seconded and the motion carried 3-0.
Gaughan moved to adjourn the meeting; Thellman seconded and the motion carried 3-0.
Nancy Thellman, Chair Jim Flory, Vice-Chair
ATTEST:
Jamie Shew, County Clerk Mike Gaughan, Member
Time and Date